Local Sports Journal
The Muskegon Lumberjacks goaltender Kevin Lindskoug has been named the 2012-13 USHL Goaltender of the Year as voted on by the USHL coaches and general managers.
He is the first-ever Lumberjack to win that award in the three-year history of the USHL franchise.
During the 2012-13 regular season, the Trelleborg, Sweden native led all USHL goaltenders with eight shutouts and a .923 save percentage in 47 appearances, both of which are new Lumberjacks’ team records.
Lindskoug’s eight shutouts also established a new single-season record in the USHL Tier 1 era (2002-present), which was previously set at seven twice during the 2005-06 and 2011-12 regular seasons.
“It’s a great feeling to win this award as I worked hard on my game every day with Coach (Manny) Legace,” said Lindskoug. “Without his guidance and teaching, I wouldn’t have had the great season that I had.”
In his first season playing in the states, Lindskoug proved to be the Lumberjacks’ workhorse this past regular season ranking tied for second among all league net minders with a 2.49 goals-against average, fourth with 2,766 minutes played, fourth with 1,384 saves made, and sixth with 23 victories.
In total, Lindskoug established seven new team records over the course of the 2012-13 regular season.
“Playing in the USHL with the Lumberjacks was a great experience as I learned that in order to be a great goaltender at any level, you need to compete at a high level every day and stay consistent emotionally when things don’t go your way,” said Lindskoug.
Lindskoug was also a three-time USHL Goaltender of the Week honoree this past season for the weeks of October 8th, December 26th, and January 21st.
